Parents threaten lawsuit unless NC school district lets them opt out of trans teacher's class

T. Keung Hui, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Sep 16, 2026

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RALEIGH, N.C. — A conservative law firm is demanding that the Wake County school system let Middle Creek Elementary School students opt out of a transgender music teacher’s class or face legal action.

The Thomas More Society sent a demand letter on Tuesday to the school system, saying the religious rights of the families were being violated by not allowing them to opt out of the transgender teacher’s class. Their list of demands includes not attending the teacher’s class and their children not being disciplined for using male pronouns when addressing the teacher.

The nonprofit law firm gave Wake 15 days to respond to the letter or risk a lawsuit.

“These are modest, commonsense protections, and the Constitution requires them,” Tyler Brooks, senior counsel at Thomas More Society, said in a news release Wednesday.

“Parents have the right to direct the religious upbringing of their children, and children should not be punished for speaking in a way that is consistent with their family’s faith. We are only asking school officials to respect parents’ rights and not force issues of sexuality and gender identity on elementary school children.”

The Wake County school system did not immediately return The News & Observer’s request for comment.

National attention for Wake schools

The issue first got widespread attention in late July when Republican state Rep. Erin Paré posted online about “the hiring of a transgender biological male, who dresses as a woman music teacher, in one of our local elementary schools.” Paré floated the idea of “requiring gender-appropriate professional attire for public school employees.””

Paré didn’t name the teacher, but she encouraged people to contact Middle Creek’s principal if they had concerns. Since then, multiple conservative websites and social media accounts have posted the name and photo of the teacher.

The N&O is not naming the teacher, who has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Is Wake trying to promote a political agenda?

Recent school board meetings have seen multiple speakers — both pro and con — speak about the teacher’s hiring.

Some Middle Creek parents and conservative activists have accused Wake of trying to promote a political agenda by having children being taught by a transgender teacher. Some speakers have called it “compelled speech” to require children to use female pronouns when addressing the teacher.

But other Middle Creek parents and community members have defended the educator as being well liked by the students. They’ve accused critics of the teacher of being bigoted, likening it to when some white families didn’t want their children to be taught by Black educators 50 years ago.

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